Emily Flanagan ‘Everything has been figured out, except how to live’

I have drawn upon concerns about ostracism and the dehumanisation of society in an urban environment. Expounded by existentialists Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, these ideas were later explored by artists Edward Hopper, Jeffrey Smart and Alberto Giacometti. Hopper’s disconcerting scenes of isolated figures in the built landscape influenced the composition of my works, demonstrating the disconnection even within the bustling streets of Sydney. The juxtaposition of organic, expressionist pen work with the harsh black lines of felt-tip pen serves to further fashion an uneasy milieu for viewers as they approach my work.

Influencing artists:
Edward Hopper
Jeffrey Smart
Alberto Giacometti